Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which represents dockworkers at all U.S. West Coast ports, have voted to ratify a tentative contract agreement reached in mid-June. The six-year agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2022, and runs through July 1, 2028.
U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom says the union’s ratification of contract – approved by about 75% of the ILWU members voting – is great news for red meat exporters because it will bring stability to the West Coast ports and eliminate concerns about work stoppages and interruptions, which were seen at several ports during contract negotiations.
Halstrom is also hopeful that West Coast ports can regain some of the import cargo business recently lost to the East and Gulf Coasts, because this is critical for maintaining exporters’ outbound shipping options to key Asian markets.
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